She would know. The author of techno-thrillers Eruption and Reclamation, in addition to several children’s books, Adrienne knows the ins and outs of publishing. Her new endeavor, Pink Umbrella Books, offers indie writers a litany of publication services to suit their needs.

Electronic book sales made up nearly half the market share last year. With digital platforms such as CreateSpace and Kindle Direct, many authors both new and established are going hybrid.

But from query through marketing, publishing can be daunting. Sometimes writers don’t receive the individual attention they’d like, and writing is often such a personal project that losing control over a venture can be off-putting for would-be authors.

Pink Umbrella Books seeks to change that.

Kirstynn Evans and her daughter Nora are photographed by Bethany Garvey in preparation for their cookbook launch with Pink Umbrella. Photo by Adrienne Quintana.

“Our goal is to be as helpful and attentive as possible to the authors we work with,” Adrienne says.

To that end, Pink Umbrella offers competitive royalties and advertising assistance, as well as affordable à la carte services to authors who would prefer to maintain their rights and royalties. These services include editing, book layout and design, as well as cover design.

Cover design is often overlooked in e-publishing. “Lack of design irks me,” Adrienne gripes. “Slapping a title and your name on a stock image does not constitute designing a cover.”

“So many things can go wrong during the design process. A cover can appear too busy, too plain, or unbalanced. The most common problem seems to be with font choice, size, and placement.”

Cover design is not a luxury, as Adrienne sees it, but a necessary advantage in ensuring a book’s success. “Paying for a quality cover is an investment an indie author will never regret.”

These days, especially in an online platform, covers alone don’t sell books. Authors must actively market, and in non-traditional ways as publishing continues to grow and change. Gone are the days when a book signing and a good cover could turn a writer into a bestseller. Now, savvy scribes participate in blog tours and book trailers—and Pink Umbrella Books can help their authors navigate this brave new world of marketing.

“With so many books out there, it’s important for authors to make sure that their books are easy to find online. . . . a compelling book trailer can generate a lot of interest in your book,” Adrienne says.

Her authors love Pink Umbrella’s personal touch. “Working with Pink Umbrella publishing has been an extremely rewarding experience . . . . [t]he face to face interaction and personal attention we have received has made the entire process feel like a true collaboration,” says Stacy Smith, whose daughter Alex’s book The Box (in collaboration with writer Yvette Cragun) was recently published by Pink Umbrella.

Pink Umbrella is actively looking for submissions, ranging from picture books to young adult and clean adult novels.

“When it comes right down to it, traditional publishers, indie publishers, and readers are all looking for the same thing—a book that keeps us turning pages,” Adrienne says.